BY SPORTS REPORTER

Now the World Cup has found its way to France, the countdown is on to the new Premier League season -- and excitement is mounting.

From the World Cup final in Russia on Sunday, there were only 26 days to the big Premier League kick-off on Saturday, August 10.

Can Manchester City win the Premier League again?

So who will win it? Can Manchester City repeat their record-breaking campaign of 2017/18 when, under Pep Guardiola, they streaked to the title by fully 19 points, winning 32 of their 38 games, suffering only two defeats and amassing exactly 100 points?

The bookies say yes they can because they are red-hot favourites at 8/11. But Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool are widely tipped to throw down a more concerted challenge this time round. They hammered City twice last term and reached the Champions League final.

You can never rule out Jose Mourinho either. He suffered the rarity of a season without a trophy in 2017/18 and his Manchester United side will not like living in the shadow of City.

Of the rest, Tottenham look over-priced at 16/1, especially when you consider that more of their players were involved in the semi-finals of the World Cup than any other club worldwide.

Chelsea, champions as recently as 2016/17, are also big at 14/1 as new manager Maurizio Sarri aims to launch a new era at Stamford Bridge.

A new era is also set to get under way at Arsenal, where Arsene Wenger’s reign has finally come to an end. Unai Emery’s men can be backed at 33/1 to land the title.

One thing is for sure. There will be a lot of transfer activity between now and the opening games. Many managers have kept their powder dry because of the World Cup, but the summer transfer window closes as early as Friday, August 9 this year.

Towards the bottom of the table, there promises to be the usual entertaining scrap to avoid relegation. All three newly-promoted clubs managed to survive last term, and those who have come up from the Championship this time, Wolves, Cardiff City and Fulham, will be hoping to achieve the same.